Rory McIlroy can blow this Masters, win it, or there's another option | Opinion

AUGUSTA, GA – Rory McIlroy didn’t lose this tournament on moving day. Whatever else you might say about the defending champion’s third round at the Masters — and, there’s plenty to say — he didn’t go full Greg Norman. Or, let’s give the Shark a break and put it a different way: McIlroy didn’t go full Rory 2011 mode.

That year, he carded an 80 on Sunday to go from first to 15th. So, perspective is necessary here, folks. McIlroy’s 1-over 73 in Round 3 wasn’t a meltdown.

It sure wasn’t a clincher, either. This 73 became an invitation for a white-knuckle Sunday, when it otherwise could’ve been a victory lap if McIlroy had gone low and put this thing away. Call this round a wobble, and a dangerous one, especially when paired with Cameron Young’s 7-under 65 birdie-storm, Scottie Scheffler’s how-do-you-do 65 , and Sam Burns’ don’t-forget-about-me 68.

“I still have a great chance,” McIlroy said after a round with four birdies, three bogeys and his first and only double bogey of the tournament. “I'm in the final group. ” McIlroy will either need to straighten out his driver and hone in his irons, or revive his hot putter.